By John Kemmeter

When Mark Lusic was named the head coach of the Amherst High School football team prior to the 2010 season, he took over a program that had never won a playoff game.

Amherst High School football head coach Mark Lusic walks off the field with senior quarterback Marcus Glodowski (3) following the top-ranked Falcons’ 28-21 win in the WIAA Division 5 State Championship Game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Thursday, Nov. 16.
(John Kemmeter photo)

Previously the coach of the Waupaca High School freshman team, Lusic brought along fellow Waupaca freshman coach Doug Spadoni to run the defense for the Falcons, and just over two years later, Amherst won a State Championship in 2012.

The Falcons followed with State Titles in 2015 and 2016, and then beat Lake Country Lutheran 28-21 in the WIAA Division 5 State Championship Game Thursday, Nov. 16, to become the eighth football team in state history to win three consecutive State Titles.

“It’s been big, ever since Lusic and Spadoni got here,” said senior offensive guard/linebacker Max Villnow of Amherst football. “Historically, we had pretty much no success in the postseason.

“But since they’ve been here, this is our fourth State Championship and fifth time down here, so they’ve definitely been big,” he said.

“They’re unbelievable coaches, just phenomenal,” said senior linebacker/tight end Thomas Anderson. “It’s something else, just knowing that we never made a State Title Game before 2012, and now we’ve been here four in a row.”

Amherst High School defensive coordinator Doug Spadoni talks with defensive players on the field during a timeout in the WIAA Division 5 State Championship Game Thursday, Nov. 16.
(John Kemmeter photo)

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